Ski and boot relative force indicators

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to improvements to devices for measuring the forces required to separate a boot from a ski binding. The trend today is towards ski bindings with mechanical heel units in place of cable bindings which have been popular for so many years. Testing devices now available are not suitable for checking these bindings. The patent application describes two basic devices which will check these new bindings. One is adapted exclusively for checking ski bindings and the other serves an additional function as a boot press and carrier.

ll'l 3,631,715

United States Patent References Cited Inventor Peter Isaac 333 o 333 t HHH s 333 m 777 e m e V 0 rl a p S m m mmm .1 E mmm m T mm S M m m m S m m lm W ...R A mmmA m T. CCC S .U S aaa n D mmm m e H455 C i N666 Uwww a h 122 m 111 a T 421 C 126 A 1..,92. W R 624 a T 522 m S 1,2,2, .n B 333 P A M,

l 2, 2 4, 9 w im o.h M NTN. a n .r e Pn m y AB ndo ,C .DB7 d Q d 9 .0 mm1, Rn H82 m pWl n @o wo 0 r mm l 9 J a 7208 Mg 97f6n u l990 h 1U-1rd nm 2 t 0. 11464 mmm 6M2JJSFa a d N. .m 1d D. e PMM AFP 111 125 224 111 PATENTEU JAM 4 la?? SHEET l UF 2 PETER ISAAC SKI AND BOOT RELATIVE FORCE INDICATORS The present invention relates to improvements to the inventions described in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,l56,l 14, 3,224,261 and 3,222,922, which discloses several devices for indicating the torque required to separate a boot from a ski when harnessed thereto.

The number and types of ski harnesses, which are also commonly referred to as bindings, are increasing rapidly and there is a marked trend towards bindings which feature a mechanical release device mounted on the ski just aft of the heel of the boot. Another trend at the present time is towards bindings which, in addition to providing conventional lateral release of the boot at the toe thereof, and upwards release at the heel thereof, provide for rotational release of the boot about the longitudinal axis of the ski.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that there is a problem in providing a device which is adaptable to checking all the numerous bindings with their special functional and constructional features. My aforesaid inventions are not suited for checking all the types of bindings referred to.

The main object of this invention is to provide a single device for checking the release torque of a boot from a ski which can be used irrespectively of the type and make of binding as is known today.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device which will check the release force of the boot relative to the ski about the longitudinal axis of the ski, in case the binding of the ski provides for such a release action.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient combination ski boot holder and torque indicator in which the aforesaid features of my invention are incorporated with a conventional ski boot holder.

My invention will be more thoroughly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a perspective view of one of the embodiments of my invention which shows the pivotally mounted boot lifting lever means, the toe moving means and the device setting means, each in two positions.

FIG. 2 illustrates a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 1, in which the boot lifting lever means is immovably fixed to the device.

FIG. 3 illustrates the manner in which the device of FIG. l is used to indicate the torque required to separate the boot from a ski about the heel of the boot in both the counterclockwise and clockwise directions, and about the toe of the boot by using the boot lifting lever means underneath the heel of the boot.

FIG. 4 is a side view along the lines 4-4 ofthe FIG. 3 which clearly shows the action which occurs when the boot lifting lever means ofthe device are applied.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of my invention which shows the essential features of the device of FIG. l incorporated in a conventional ski boot holder.

FIG. 6 is a figure which corresponds to FIG. 3, but shows the manner in which the device of FIG 5 may be used to indicate the force required to separate a boot from a ski in the following four ways: laterally at the toe of the boot in two opposite directions; at the heel of the boot by applying the boot lifting lever means under the heel of the boot; rotationally relative to the longitudinal axis of the ski by applying the boot lifting lever means underneath the boot in the toe region thereof.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the ski and boot which more clearly shows the action which occurs when the device of FIG. 5 is used to check the rotational release torque of the boot as referred to with reference to the description of FIG. 6.

In the drawings like characters of reference designate similar parts in the several figures.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a device which will measure torque, or force, and hence the device is provided with the necessary means of applying force at desired locations of the boot in order to establish whether the force required to release the boot from the ski is within the limits permissible for the skier, such that the bootwill release from the ski at a force, or torque, less than that required to break a leg. Such medical data has now become available. Accordingly, the skier may effect adjustments on his binding until the binding releases the boot at the desired force or torque.

Describing first the device of FIG, l it is in some basic respects similar to the device of FIG. I of U.S. Pat. No. 3,222,922, but overcomes most of the shortcomings thereof as will be described The device essentially comprises hub means 8, boot toe moving means 1, which is pivotally connected to the hub means 8 and retained thereto by the retainer 9, device setting means 6, which is provided with a journal stem 18, by means of which it is rotatably mounted to the hub means 8, boot lifting lever means 3, which is shown pivotally mounted on said boot toe moving means l, elort applying means comprising a resilient rod 7 and handle I0, and force or torque indicating means comprising the pointer 4, scale holder 5 and scale 13 mounted thereon.

The boot toe moving means 1 is preferably made as an arm with an offset 2 for engaging the toe of the boot at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the boot, the purpose of which will become evident when the application of the device is described with reference to FIG. 3. The offset 2 is provided with two projections 17 and 16, the former providing a means of locating the offset on the boot and the latter providing the bearing with which the load is applied to the boot at a distinct position on the offset.

The boot lifting lever means 3, by means of which the boot may be lifted from the ski at desired locations, as will be described, is pivotally mounted on the toe moving means l and hinged thereto with a suitable hinge l2, as shown. The purpose of the bearing bead 1 l is to provide a distinct position on the heel lifting means at which the force is applied to the boot. The action of the bearing bead will become clear when the application of the device is described.

The device setting means 6 generally comprise a stirrup with a locating shoulder I4 for positioning the device against an edge of the ski.

It will become clear as this specification proceeds that it is desirable to have the device setting means 6 and the boot toe moving means l in parallel planes when the device is used for torque measurement. Since the latter means is rotatably mounted on the hub 8, as previously referred to7 two stops 15 and 19 are provided on the hub 8, to limit the travel of the boot toe moving means.

Before describing the application of the device, a constructional variant will be described with reference to FIG. 2. This embodiment shows another method of providing boot lifting lever means. The device of FIG. 2 includes toe moving means 25, device setting means 22, both pivotally mounted on a hub 21 with two stops 23 and 24 for limiting the travel of the toe moving means 25, but the boot lifting lever means 20 is immovably fixed to the hub 21, as shown. This embodiment is simpler in construction than that of FIG. l but has the disadvantage that the boot lifting lever means 20 may be applied from only one side of the boot. The pivotally mounted boot lifting lever means 3 of FIG. l may be applied from either side of the boot, as will become clear when the operation of the device is described.

Having described the first embodiment of my invention, the manner in which it is applied will now be described with reference to FIG. 3. This FIG. shows the device of FIG. 1 in three distinct positions at which the force required to separate the boot from the ski may be measured.

In the first position, the device is placed so that the stirrup 6 rests under the ski with the locating shoulder 14 butting against the edge of the ski, and the offset 2 of the toe moving means l being placed so that the locator 17 butts against the comer of the toe of the boot, which in most bindings is possible. On bindings where this is not possible the offset 2 may be applied slightly back from the toe of the boot. An effort is then applied to the handle I and the force or torque at which the boot releases from the ski may be read on the scale 13. During thisl operation the force is applied to the boot at the bearing bead 16 of the offset 2. An adjustment may then be effected on the toe piece 28 of the binding until by trial and error the boot releases at a desired torque or force.

The device may then be applied to the other side of the boot, as shown, to establish the force or torque required to separate the boot from the ski in the opposite direction. It will be noted from the construction in FIG. l that in this application the boot toe moving means is rotated 180 to the other extreme position. Likewise the boot lifting means 3 is swung 180 with respect to the toe moving means l` as shown, in order to avoid interference with the floor or object on which the ski is placed during these tests.

In applications of the device for measuring the force required to separate the boot from the ski at the heel of the boot, the boot lifting lever means 3 is placed under the heel of the boot, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an effort is then applied to the handle l0, as best seen in FIG. 4, until the heel releases from the ski. Adjustment may then be made to the heel unit 26 of the ski binding until by trial and error the unit releases at the required force. It will be seen in FIG. 4 that the bearing bead ll provides a definite locations on the boot lifting lever means 3 at which the force is applied to the boot. This is necessary to ensure that the scale I3 may be calibrated accurately. In this regard the bearing bead 16 of the toe moving means 1 has the same function. Although this has not been shown, the scale 13 may be provided with two indices, one for indicating measurements with the boot lifting lever means 3, and the other for indicating measurements with the toe moving means 1.

The second embodiment of my invention will now be described with reference to FIG. S. This figure illustrates a conventional ski boot holder comprising a flat frame 29 to which the boot may be retained with toe clamps 30 and heel clamps 3l, along with means for measuring the force required to separate a boot from a ski, as generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,156,114, but with distinct improvements as will become evident as this specification proceeds. The means for displacing the boot from the ski include two boot toe moving means 52 and 53 pivotally connected to frame 29 with bushings 36 and 37 respectively, and two boot lifting lever means 38 and 40 which are attached to the frame 29 at right angles. The boot lifting lever means 38 and 40 are each provided with bearing beads 39 and 4l respectively.

Although the following variation has not been illustrated, it will be clear that the boot lifting lever means may be pivotally connected in the manner shown or may be slidably mounted on the frame 29.

The device setting means comprise `a ski traversing stirrup 42 which has a stem 43 which may .be alternatively placed in the holes 50 or 5l of the bushings 36 and 37 respectively, as will be described.

The effort applying means comprise a resilient rod 33 and handle 34, one end of the resilient rod being attached to the end of the frame 29 of the device to which the boot lifting lever means 38 and 40 are attached. The force or torque indicating means comprises an indicator 32 and a scale 35 which may be attached to the frame 29, or alternatively the scale 3S may be attached to the handle 34 and the indicator 32 to the frame 29.

The application of the embodiment of FIG. will now be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. To measure the force required to separate the boot 49 from the ski at the toe of the boot while the boot pivots about its heel, the stern 43 of the stirrup 42 of the device is placed in the bushing 36 and then the device is placed such that the stirrup 42 is underneath the ski and the boot toe moving means 53 engage the toe of the boot, as shown in FIG. 6. An effort is then applied to the handle 34 and the force or torque required to separate the boot from the ski is read on scale 35. To measure the force required to release the binding in the opposite direction, the

device may be applied as shown by the dotted lines. Namely,

the stirrup 42 is placed in the other bushing 37 and the boot' toe moving means 52 is then applied against the other corner of the toe of the boot 49, as shown in FIG` 6. An effort is then applied to the handle 34 until the boot releases from the ski, the effort being indicated on scale 35. By trial and error, an adjustment may then be effected to the toe unit 45 of the binding until the boot 49 releases at the desired torque or force.

To check the force required to release the boot from the ski at the heel thereof, the boot lifting lever means 40 is inserted between the boot and ski as shown in FIG. 6, and effort is then applied to the handle 34, the force or torque being indicated on scale 35. Adjustment may then be effected to the heel unit 46 of the binding until the boot releases at the desired force. It will also be evident that the device may be applied from the other side of the s'ki, in which case boot lifting lever means 38 would be used.

To determine the force required to separate the boot from the ski by rotary action relative to the longitudinal axis of the ski, the device may be applied at several locations, only one being shown underneath the left front sole of the boot, as seen in FIG. 6. Basically such an application is the same as that described beforehand with reference to measuring the force required to lift the heel of the boot, but the boot lifting lever means 38 are then only inserted a fixed distance laterally under the boot, as best seen in FIG. 7. Again effort is applied to the handle 34 and the force or torque may be read on scale 35 of the device. It will be evident that similar force measurements may be made at several locations on both sides of the boot.

It will be mentioned that the aforesaid application can only be made on skis in which the toe unit 45 and heel unit 46 of the bindings are designed to release rotationally, which at the present time is the case with only a small percentage of the bindings.

It will be evident from the preceding description that my invention is a significant contribution to the art of measuring the release action of ski bindings. By the use of the boot lifting lever means 3 of FIG. l, 20 of FIG. 2, and 38 and 40 of FIG. 5, the release action at the heel of the boot, or at other positions of the boot, may be conveniently measured, by using the device alongside the boot. Of course, with bindings comprising cables, the heel lifting means 47 and 48 may be used instead to effect a measurement, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,l56,l 14. However, these latter means cannot be readily applied when the bindings comprise heel units 26 shown in FIG. 4.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that a variant of my invention is a device which has both, boot lifting lever 38 and 40, and heel lifting means 47 and 48 along with toe moving means 52 and 53, as shown. ln such a device it may be preferable to have three indices on the scale 35, each index graduated to indicate a force applied with a particular load moving means. Such a device has distinct merits in that it gives the skier an option in applying the device having regard for the particular bindings he or she may be using.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A device for indicating the force required to separate a boot from a ski when harnessed thereto, essentially at the toe of the boot in a direction transversely relative to said ski, including, in combination, load moving means in the form of a load bearing arm, one end of which is offset and is bearable against said boot, device setting means pivotally connected to said device and coacting with said load moving means for positioning and holding said device against said ski, an effort applying resilient arm, said load bearing arm being pivotally mounted at the end opposite said offset end and adaptable for positioning at two approximately diagonally opposite positions, one position being for engaging said boot with said offset end from the left side and the other position for engaging said boot from the right side, positioning means for positioning said arm in said two positions, a rigid indicator rod which is fixed to said device to lie parallel with said resilient arm, and a measuring scale adjacent said rod whereon the deflection of said resilient arm relative to said rod may be read.

2. The device of claim l which, in addition, includes booth lifting lever means, one end providing fulcrum means and the other boot reaction means, which are insertable between said boot and said ski from either side of said boot, and which exert a lifting force on said boot by levering action, said fulcrum bearing on said ski underneath said boot, said boot lifting lever means being fixed rigidly to said device at the end at which said resilient arm is fixed to project laterally from said resilient arm such that the planes of action of said resilient arm and said boot lifting lever means are approximately parallel but offset from each other.

3. The device of claim l which, in addition, includes boot lifting lever means, one end providing fulcrum means and the other boot reaction means, which are insertable between said boot and said ski from either side ofsaid boot, and which exert a lifting force on said boot by a levering action, said fulcrum bearing on said ski underneath said boot, said boot lifting lever means being pivotally fastened to said load bearing arm such that said boot lifting lever means may be positioned laterally with respect to said resilient arm such that the planes of action of said resilient arm and said boot lifting lever means are approximately parallel but offset from each other.

4. A device for measuring the force required to separate a boot from a ski when harnessed thereto by the application of a force underneath said boot, said device including a resilient arm wherewith effort may be applied, boot lifting lever means, one end providing fulcrum means and the other boot reaction means, which is attached to said resilient arm at one end thereof to project laterally therefrom such that the planes of action of said resilient arm and said boot lifting lever means are approximately parallel but offset from each other, said boot lifting lever means being applicable between said boot and said ski to exert a levering action, said fulcrum bearing on said ski underneath said boot, said device having indicating means coacting with said resilient arm for indicating said force when effort is applied to said resilient arm.

5. A device comprising the combination with a holder for at least one ski boot, of means for indicating the force required to separate a boot from a ski when harnessed thereto, said device comprising a substantially flat supporting structure against which a ski boot may be secured via clamps on said supporting structure, an effort applying resilient arm one end of which is connected to one end of said supporting structure, boot lifting lever means, one end providing fulcrum means and the other boot reaction means, projecting laterally from said end of said supporting structure such that the planes of action of said boot lifting lever means and said resilient arm are parallel but offset from each other, said boot lifting lever means being applicable between said boot and said ski to exert a levering action, said fulcrum bearing on said ski underneath said boot when said device is placed alongside said boot, said device having indicating means coacting with said effort applying resilient arm for indicating said force when effort is applied to said resilient arm. 

1. A device for indicating the force required to separate a boot from a ski when harnessed thereto, essentially at the toe of the boot in a direction transversely relative to said ski, including, in combination, load moving means in the form of a load bearing arm, one end of which is offset and is bearable against said boot, device setting means pivotally connected to said device and coacting with said load moving means for positioning and holding said device against said ski, an effort applying resilient arm, said load bearing arm being pivotally mounted at the end opposite said offset end and adaptable for positioning at two approximately diagonally opposite positions, one position being for engaging said boot with said offset end from the left side and the other position for engaging said boot from the right side, positioning means for positioning said arm in said two positions, a rigid indicator rod which is fixed to said device to lie parallel with said resilient arm, and a measuring scale adjacent said rod whereon the deflection of said resilient arm relative to said rod may be read.
 2. The device of claim 1 which, in addition, includes booth lifting lever means, one end providing fulcrum means and the other boot reaction means, which are insertable between said boot and said ski from either side of said boot, and which exert a lifting force on said boot by levering action, said fulcrum bearing on said ski underneath said boot, said boot lifting lever means being fixed rigidly to said device at the end at which said resilient arm is fixed to project laterally from said resilient arm such that the planes of action of said resilient arm and said boot lifting lever means are approximately parallel but offset from each other.
 3. The device of claim 1 which, in addition, includes boot lifting lever means, one end providing fulcrum means and the other boot reaction means, which are insertable between said boot and said ski from either side of said boot, and which exert a lifting force on said boot by a levering action, said fulcrum bearing on said ski underneath said boot, said boot lifting lever means being pivotally fastened to said load bearing arm such that said boot lifting lever means may be positioned laterally with respect to said resilient arm such that the planes of action of said resilient arm and said boot lifting lever means are approximately parallel but offset from each other.
 4. A device for measuring the force required to separate a boot from a ski when harnessed thereto by the application of a force underneath said boot, said device including a resilient arm wherewith effort may be applied, boot lifting lever means, one end providing fulcrum means and the other boot reaction means, which is attached to said resilient arm at one end thereof to project laterally therefrom such that the planes of action of said resilient arm and said boot lifting lever means are approximately parallel but offset from each other, said boot lifting lever means being applicable between said boot and said ski to exert a levering action, said fulcrum bearing on said ski underneath said boot, said device having indicating means coacting with said resilient arm for indicating said force when effort iS applied to said resilient arm.
 5. A device comprising the combination with a holder for at least one ski boot, of means for indicating the force required to separate a boot from a ski when harnessed thereto, said device comprising a substantially flat supporting structure against which a ski boot may be secured via clamps on said supporting structure, an effort applying resilient arm one end of which is connected to one end of said supporting structure, boot lifting lever means, one end providing fulcrum means and the other boot reaction means, projecting laterally from said end of said supporting structure such that the planes of action of said boot lifting lever means and said resilient arm are parallel but offset from each other, said boot lifting lever means being applicable between said boot and said ski to exert a levering action, said fulcrum bearing on said ski underneath said boot when said device is placed alongside said boot, said device having indicating means coacting with said effort applying resilient arm for indicating said force when effort is applied to said resilient arm. 